Driving the most spectacular roads of Chile

From the whispering dunes of the Atacama to the icy embrace of Patagonian glaciers, Chile paints a mesmerizing canvas for road trip enthusiasts. Starting on Ruta 5, the Panamerican Highway unfurls the slender tapestry of Chile's dramatic geography. But beyond this iconic route lies the intrigue of Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, snaking through majestic mountain passes, and the challenging terrain leading to the Ojos del Salado stratovolcano, the world’s highest active volcano.

Dive deeper into the heart of the Atacama with Route 27, a ribbon of road where salt flats stretch to infinity and night skies boast a celestial brilliance unmatched anywhere else. The southern allure of the Carretera Austral beckons next, a captivating route winding through lush forests, shimmering fjords, and the untamed beauty of Patagonia. And for those craving more, the Paso del Planchón offers yet another testament to Chile’s road trip wonders.

In Chile, roads aren't just stretches of tarmac; they are narrators. Narrators of tales where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with breathtaking terrains, and where the dance of land and sea is as timeless as the wind. So, gear up, rev that engine, and embark on a Chilean odyssey where every bend, every ascent, and every horizon tells a story.

Termas del Flaco is a hot springs resort with thermal baths at an elevation of 1.776m above the sea level located in the Región del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, of Chile.

Quebrada del Peñon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.792m (12,440ft) above the sea level, located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. Daytime temperatures will reach up to 30 °C, while at night temperatures will tend to drop very low, even below freezing point in winter. There are often also b winds in the area.

Ruta A-23 is one of the most challenging roads in the world. Located in the far northern corner of Chile, this spectacular, unpaved trail varies from smooth surfaces to stretches of washboard. It’s a 2wd road, weather permitting.

Salar de Aguas Calientes is a high mountain salt flat at an elevation of 4.250m (13,943ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region, of northern Chile. Daytime temperatures will reach up to 30 °C, while at night temperatures will tend to drop very low, even below freezing point in winter. There are often also b winds in the area.

Laguna Miscanti is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.120m (13,517ft) above the sea level, located in the altiplano of the Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile.

Cerro Toco is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5,416m (17,769ft) above the sea level located on a lunar landscape in the eastern part of the high Atacama Desert of northern Chile in the Antofagasta Region. It’sone of the highest mountain roads of Chile.

Cerro Pabellón is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.647m (15,246ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Desert, in the Ollagüe district, Antofagasta region, in Chile. 

Puente Nininco is a wooden bridge located in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Cerro Armazones is a high mountain eak at an elevation of 3.060m (10,040ft) above the sea level, located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the driest and remotest on Earth.

Puente Las Corrientes is a wooden bridge located  in the Araucanía Region of southern Chile. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Cerro Chajnantor is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.635m (18,487ft) above the sea level, located in the high Atacama region of Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of South America.

B-245 is a very scenic high mountain road located in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile. The road offers great views of volcanoes and lakes.

Ubicado en el continente sudamericano, Chile es una larga y estrecha área de tierra entre los Andes y el Océano Pacífico. El país más largo del mundo se caracteriza por una estrecha depresión entre las montañas y el mar.

Curiquinca is a stratovolcano at an elevation of 5.625m (18,454ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Bolivia and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Ruta 24 is a stunning drive in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas in the world. The road is 156km long and links Calama and Tocopilla.

Laguna de Legia is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.350m (14,271ft) above the sea level located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile. This is a maintained road where a high clearance 2WD vehicle is able to travel safely at low speeds on long dry straight-of-ways, without losing control due to wash boarding, ruts, or dips.

Volcán Acotango is a volcano located on the border of Bolivia and Chile. A 4x4 mining trail ascends to an altitude of 5,509m (18,074ft) above sea level. The track beyond this point continues further, but it is impassable. It is one of the highest roads in the country.

Laguna Salar de Pajonales is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.541m (11,617ft) above the sea level, located in the Región de Antofagasta, in Chile.

CH-21 is a high mountain road located in northern Chile, in Antofagasta Region. The road is mostly unpaved and runs entirely over the 2.300m above the sea level.

Abra Picavilque is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.085m (16,683ft) above the sea level, located near the Bolivian border, in Chile’s Region I (Tarapacá). It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Located in the Andes Mountains of Chile, Laguna Verde is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.328m (14,200ft).

Laguna Santa Rosa is a high mountain salt lake at an elevation of 3.810m (12,500ft) above the sea level, located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. Daytime temperatures will reach up to 30 °C, while at night temperatures will tend to drop very low, even below freezing point in winter. There are often also b winds in the area.

Portezuelo Sairécabur is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.541m (18,179ft) above the sea level, located northeast of San Pedro de Atacama, on the border of Bolivia and Chile. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Laguna del Inca o del Portillo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.853m (9,360ft) above the sea level, located in the high mountains of the Andes, in Valparaíso Region of Chile, close to the border with Argentina.

Embalse la Laguna is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 3.180m (10,433ft) above the sea level located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile.

Located within the Andes Mountains of northern Chile, El Tatio is the highest geyser field of the world, at an elevation of 4.320m (14,173ft) above the sea level.

Cerro Llullaillaco is a dormant volcano located on the border of Argentina (Salta Province) and Chile (Antofagasta Region). A gravel rough 4x4 road southwest of the volcano climbs up to 5.049m (16,564ft) above the sea level.

Cerro Blanco is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.161m (16,932ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes, in the Tarapacá Region of Chile. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Quebrada de Camarones is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.391m (4,563ft) above the sea level located in the Arica y Parinacota Region in Chile.

The challenging Pan-American Highway is one of the biggest adventures in the world. It’s a network of roads covering almost 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) from North America to South America. It’s said to be the longest road on Earth.

Chollay-Punta Colorada road is one of the most scenic drives in Chile. The road climbs several mountain passes through more than 30 hairpin turns.

C-173 is a high mountain track located in the Atacama region of Chile, running entirely over the 3.000m above the sea level.

Pascua Lama is an international high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.256m (17,244ft) above the sea level, located in the Andes mountains, in the southern reaches of Atacama Desert, on the border of Argentina and Chile. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Paso Barros Arana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.431m (11,256ft) above the sea level, located on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile.

Cordón de Inacaliri is a volcano at an elevation of 5.395m (17,700ft) above the sea level, located on the Chilean-Bolivian border. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Cerro Tololo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.207m (7,241ft) above the sea level, located in the foothills of the Andes, in the Coquimbo Region of northern Chile.